Common Energy Problems, Mood Disorders, and Depression
Why it happens and how they can be naturally and effectively treated
BY JOSEPH REGAN, M.S.
Energy problems, mood disorders and depression have become increasingly prevalent in today’s society. With stressful situations such as the state of the economy, war, and the pressure of our busy lives, some individuals will turn to medications like Prozac, or use food, alcohol, smoking, and recreational drugs to compensate.
The truth is, how you feel is governed by certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. These brain chemicals are thousands of times stronger than street drugs, even heroin. Your body needs them or health deteriorates. When these chemicals are depleted, the body sends out a strong command that is bound to break a person’s will power. The individual will seek out a drug-like food or alcohol to fulfill the natural brain chemicals that are missing. Depression, anxiety, irritability, tension, grief and cravings are all manifestations of the natural brain chemicals that are used up. These brain chemicals are essential for calming, stimulating and mood enhancing.
Something along the way has interfered with the systems that produce these feel-good brain chemicals. Genes have a big part in the emotional balance of an individual. That is why some people are more emotionally balanced than others. Parents can transfer emotional traits. Prolonged stress can deplete natural sedatives, stimulants, and pain relievers. If you have inherited low levels of neurotransmitters to begin with, this puts individual in a major deficit. Eventually your brain is incapable of keeping up with the demand to maintain balance. The habitual use of drug-like foods, alcohol or drugs (including medications) will inhibit the natural production of these brain chemicals. These substances can block your brain from receiving these essential chemicals, as receptor sites on the cells become desensitized to the chemicals. This develops a vicious cycle that produces the need to fill these emotional and psychological voids.
This is where diet plays into the scenario. Perhaps you are eating too little protein, and the diet is probably high in refined sugar and flours. The brain relies on amino acids which are broken down from the protein you ingest. Amino acids are what make these mood enhancing chemicals. There are at least twenty-two amino acids contained in protein foods. High-protein foods, such as eggs, beef, chicken, and fish contain all twenty-two amino acids, including the nine that are considered essential amino acids. Other foods, such as grains, and beans have some but not all of the nine essential amino acids. So, they need to be combined appropriately to provide a complete protein (rice and beans). Studies confirm that animal foods have higher bioavailability of all essential nutrients, not only amino acids.
